John Waihee, first governor of Hawaiian ancestory, inaugurated in 50th state

ByAssociated PressDecember 3, 1986

Honolulu
— John D. Waihee III was sworn in Monday as Hawaii's fourth elected governor in a colorful ceremony at historic Iolani Palace that recalled the coronations of the one-time island kingdom's monarchs. In his inaugural speech, the state's first elected chief executive of Hawaiian ancestry vowed to bring the 50th state's ethnically and culturally diverse people together, and urged his audience to look to the future.

An estimated 10,000 people gathered on the palace grounds for a program of more than four hours that included performances of traditional chants and hulas, and of more contemporary Hawaiian tunes.

Mr. Waihee, an attorney, marched in a formal procession from the palace, once the home of kings, to the Royal Bandstand. Army National Guard cannons fired a 19-gun salute as Air National Guard fighter jets made a flyby.